THE Julia Chibhabha Women’s League is more than just a name on a trophy. It is a story. A story of determination, of firsts, and of a woman who learned the game right here at *Takashinga Cricket Club. Julia Chibhabha was the first captain of the Zimbabwe women’s national cricket team. Today, every ball bowled, every run scored in the country’s premier women’s club competition is played under her name. And for Julia, it has been nothing short of humbling. “When I was informed that they wanted to name the league in my name, I think it was a humbling experience,” Julia says. “I didn’t play because I wanted to get an accolade or any recognition. It was just a way of developing myself. I’m passionate about sports, but cricket is now so close to my heart. So when they said they were going to name the league after me, I was grateful.” She describes the official ceremony and the plaque recognising her contributions as “a very emotional moment.” “It’s something that I don’t take lightly. It gives me an even greater challenge to make sure we continue to grow the game. To be an influence to generations to come. And with the little that I can contribute to women’s cricket, I am more than happy to contribute.” For Julia, Takashinga is sacred ground. “Takashinga for me will always be a club that I talk about because this is where I realised my dream of playing the game. I learned how to play cricket at Takashinga. I got most of that determination from the ladies and the men, particularly the men, because they’re the ones that pushed me to go beyond what I thought I could do. The support has been amazing from the time that I decided, ‘OK, this is what I want to do.’ That alone is something I will forever cherish,” she said. "I was nurtured at Takaz in all aspects of the game. I became the first ZC female accredited development coach at 20 years of age. I coached at Mhofu Primary School and then Widdicombe School. I am also an International Scorer. This is all thanks to the club which had an inclusive approach to cricket and looked past gender issues." It is fitting then that Takashinga Women were the defending champions of the league that bears her name, before Gladiators dethroned them in the 2026 season. The naming of the league, Julia believes, does more than honour the past. It creates hope for the future. “Every time the matches are played, the mention of my name is also there. It reaffirms that there is hope for any girl who decides they want to play the game, to pick up a bat and see what it can do for them," she said. "My wish is that the naming will also push myself and other ladies who have played to continue to grow the game beyond our playing years. There are so many different avenues, scoring, coaching, managers. I’ve also ventured into match refereeing. Everything is about trying and seeing how it works. If I’m more visible in cricket, then it is practical for them to aim for. My goal is to continue growing as an individual and be a practical example for them to go for their dreams.” Julia now serves in a dual role, as a convener helping run the competition, and as a mentor walking the boundary ropes. “As a convener, you’re looking for strong performances. As a mentor, you are there to drive the fact that everything is a progression of development in skills. I’ve got to balance the two," she added. "I always feel for the women because the amount of game time is not as much as men, but it’s there. I give credit to Zimbabwe Cricket for adopting the men’s style of competition, regional games, franchise games, more international games. With the FTP, there’s more cricket that is going to be played. There are more cricketers that we are going to need.” She points to the Harare Metropolitan Women’s League as a breakthrough, a weekly, competitive league that gives girls game time and creates a wider pool for provincial and national selection. “Without being biased, I’d like to see more players from Takashinga raising the Takashinga flag high. Takashinga for me is the hub for the development of cricket in Zimbabwe.” Looking forward, Julia’s vision is clear and ambitious. “We need to work with Harare Metropolitan to spread the Women’s League as wide as possible. Any girl who feels they want to play can approach any club. We need more clubs, more competitive cricket, maybe even two rounds," she said. "Ideally we are looking forward to a Schools League. That will feed into our under-19 team. In five years’ time we will have quite a number of new names popping up, the likes of Beloved Biza, Kelis Ndhlovu. They’ve come through the system and now they are in the national team. The future of women’s cricket looks bright. If we continue to push the agenda of ‘let’s make sure cricket is everywhere, women know that there’s cricket’, then we will get there. "I would like to think we are the patrons of the game and it’s only us who can push it further. If we manage to drive it forward as women, then it’s a brand that over time will give rewards.” From learning her cricket at Takashinga, to captaining Zimbabwe for the first time, to having a national league named in her Honour, Julia Chibhabha’s journey mirrors the growth of women’s cricket in Zimbabwe. The Julia Chibhabha Women’s League is not just about who wins it each year. It is about every girl who sees the name, picks up a bat, and believes she can go further. As Julia puts it: “It’s just putting our heads together and driving the vision forward.” Back at Takashinga Cricket Club, where her journey began, that vision came to life as she was nurtured in every aspect of the game. At just 20 years old, she became Zimbabwe Cricket’s first accredited female development coach before coaching at Mhofu Primary School and later Widdicombe School. She also qualified as an international scorer. She credits Takashinga’s inclusive culture for her growth, saying the club looked beyond gender and provided equal opportunities for women to develop and excel in cricket.